An Open Letter To Visitors

 

Thank you for your interest in my work.

I have received numerous requests for information from Web surfers who have:

Many of the requests are for the names of persons outside of Chicago who perform the types of testing I perform. Unfortunately, there is no one that I can recommend and I hope that you will read on so you understand why I say this.

Ultrasound is an art form. Perhaps no other imaging technology is as dependent on the operator as is the creation of an ultrasound image.

If I took a thousand paint brushes and gave them to a thousand people, not all of them would create or even try to create masterpieces. Some would create terrible paintings, most would do mediocre jobs and some would do good work.

Ultrasound is like painting. For us, the transducer is the brush, the monitor is the canvas and the computer is the palette.

If I gave an ultrasound transducer to a thousand people, not all would create acceptable ultrasound images.

Because I do not know the quality of the work performed by others who claim to do this kind of testing, I cannot, in good conscience, direct people who are looking for my help to those whose skills are unfamiliar to me.

The reality of the situation is, that in most instances, the examinations are not performed by physicians but by technologists. This makes recommending a location for an ultrasound examination even more difficult. Technologists, who are generally hired employees or independent contractors, may change even though the physicians working with them may remain the same. And vice versa.

In fact, it is been my experience, that a significant percentage of patients that I see and who have been seen by others (physicians and/or techs) before they came to me, have diagnoses that were missed at the time of the prior examination.

Remember, just because someone owns or uses an ultrasound machine, does not mean that he/she knows how to use it well or properly.

Therefore, I hope that you will understand why I do not recommend others with whom I am not personally familiar.

If you choose to speak with me, I would be happy to address and answer all questions you may have regarding this work and assist you in any way in which I can, in good faith and to the best of my abilities.

Thank you for taking the time to read this letter.

Sincerely,

Michael Applebaum, MD, JD, FCLM

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